Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1963 (Painted, Drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design for Harold Blackburn as Mr Peachum. The design depicts a full length male figure wearing 18th century style costume. The costume consists of a green patterned dressing gown, worn over a brown waistcoat, white shirt, and grey breeches, stockings and slippers. The figure also wears a turban on his head. The figure has been drawn and painted over a grey wash.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil, Pen & Ink, Ink, and Wash, on Paper
Brief description
Costume design by Alix Stone for Harold Blackburn as Mr Peachum in "The Beggar's Opera", Aldeburgh Festival, June 20th 1963
Physical description
Costume design for Harold Blackburn as Mr Peachum. The design depicts a full length male figure wearing 18th century style costume. The costume consists of a green patterned dressing gown, worn over a brown waistcoat, white shirt, and grey breeches, stockings and slippers. The figure also wears a turban on his head. The figure has been drawn and painted over a grey wash.
Dimensions
  • Height: 507mm
  • Width: 381mm
  • Mount height: 634mm
  • Mount width: 509mm
The design has been glued directly onto a card mount.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • ' Alix Stone ' (Signature; Lower left hand corner of the design; handwriting; pencil)
  • ' Mr / Peachum / Dressing gown / Bald Wig ' (Textual information; Lower left hand side of the design.; handwriting; pencil)
  • ' A52 Harry Blackman / & David Kelly ' (Textual information; Upper centre of the mount.; handwriting; pencil)
Object history
This costume design by Alix Stone is part of an extensive collection of designs purchased by the Theatre Museum directly from the artist in 1994. The design was executed for a production of Benjamin Britten's version of John Gay's opera "The Beggar's Opera" at the Aldeburgh Festival, June 20th 1963. The opera was produced by Colin Graham, and conducted by Benjamin Britten. The production was revived at the Edinburgh Festival in August 1963, and at Sadler's Wells in July 1967.
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Subjects depicted
Associations
Literary referenceThe Beggar's Opera
Bibliographic reference
"The Beggar's Opera, A Ballad-Opera", by John Gay (1728) in a new musical version realised from the original airs by Benjamin Britten (1948). Vocal Score by Arthus Oldham. Published 1949, by Hakes & Son (London) Ltd. A copy of this score is in the Theatre Museum Library. Catalogue number M1503.B853 Folio. Dynix Number #509380.
Collection
Accession number
S.93-2001

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Record createdApril 6, 2001
Record URL
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